Think Ontario is too far north for wine production? Think again! Ontario’s wine country shares the same latitude with other well-known wine regions, including Tuscany (Italy) and Oregon (USA). The cool climate, combined with lots of sun and moisture from the Great Lakes and limestone from ancient glaciers, creates ideal conditions for growing grapes to turn into elegant and exciting wines.
With several wine regions scattered across the province, it can be difficult to know where to start. Not to worry: we’ve got you covered with our handy guide. Every winery on our list is Feast On® certified, which verifies that a business sources their goods and ingredients from Ontario’s farmers and makers whenever possible. By choosing a Feast On® certified business, you’re supporting our local food system AND getting a true taste of our province.
Ready to start discovering some of Ontario’s most exciting wineries? Keep reading!
Essex Pelee Island Coast (EPIC) Wineries
Located along the same latitude as the Mediterranean, the Lake Erie North Shore Region (LENS) is nestled along Lake Erie. This location provides a unique climate in a continental region, with exceptional soil conditions and longer sun hours and greater heat units than any other area in Canada.
Oxley Estate Winery
Where: 533 County 50 Rd E, 533 Essex County Rd 50, Harrow, ON (View map)
The Oxley vineyards, blessed with Fox sandy loam soil, full sun, and gentle breezes from Lake Erie, are in a small farming community full of friendly, supportive neighbours and incredible people who staff the retail store, tasting bar, restaurant and kitchen.
With two farms and 18 acres of vines, this young winery (owners Ann and Murray Wilson purchased the land in 2009) attracts visitors from around the globe, all eager to sample their new varieties, sparkling wines, and discover the winery’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Must-try wine: Oxley Estate Winery 2021 Chardonnay – Honeysuckle and cardamom drift through the air as this wine is poured, then flavours of roasted Meyer lemon, Golden Delicious apples, jammy apricot, and spiced white pepper warm you. Steely minerality and inviting acidity will cleanse and refresh your palate. Serve with fresh bread, toasted, drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt, and spread with creamy Camembert. The winery suggests a musical pairing with “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles, a match for the ages!
North 42 Degrees Estate Winery & Bistro 42
Where: 130 Essex County Rd 50, Harrow, ON (View map)
Just down the road from Oxley Estate Winery, you’ll find North 42 Degrees Estate Winery, an endeavour born from a love of agriculture, wine, and the local community. Owners Martin Gorski and Suzanne Dajczak are third generation farmers of Polish heritage with a longtime love of grapes and wine and call themselves “purveyors of good times and fine wines.”
The bistro is an extension of this philosophy. The menu highlights local produce, including Ontario meats & cheeses, Canadian sustainable seafood, and produce grown right on the estate farm. Everything is made from scratch, including the ketchup, glazes, marinades, mustards, and pickles. Each dish has a suggested wine pairing that has been carefully selected by the sommelier.
Must-try wine: North 42 Degrees Estate Winery 2021 Winter White, a playful white blend to keep you warm on a cold winter night! This medium-bodied vegan wine is a blend of Viognier, Riesling and Pinot Gris. It has deep notes of sweet citrus and apple flavours, creamy notes and culminates in a long lingering finish. Suggested pairing: Pan-seared halibut with romesco, orzo and almonds.
Huron Shores Wineries
The Lake Huron shoreline is one of Ontario’s beachiest destinations for sunshine, surf and stellar sunsets. This region sits outside of Ontario’s established wine regions, but trendsetting winemakers have begun establishing themselves in the area to bring unique and delicious wine experiences to the sandy expanses of Lake Huron.
Dark Horse Estate Winery
Where: 70665 B Line, Grand Bend, ON (View map)
Located just minutes from legendary beaches and next to the Huron Country Playhouse, Dark Horse Estate Winery is a testament to grit and determination. Preparations began in 2014 with vines planted the following season. After years of hard work, the thriving eight-hectare vineyard surrounds a stunning, manor-style production facility.
Their on-site restaurant, Danu Cellars, crafts exquisite flavours sourced from the surrounding farms and fields. The culinary team sources the finest, freshest ingredients and the menu reflects the seasons, with a focus on sustainability and highlighting local farmers, purveyors and artisans.
Must-try wine: Dark Horse Estate Winery 2022 Vidal. This wine is fresh with floral, white peach and citrus aromas and flavours. It’s beautifully balanced with a slight effervescence. Suggested pairing: A salad of local beets and chèvre cheese with candied walnuts, pears, and arugula.
Hessenland Inn & Shatz Winery
Where: 72981 ON-21, Zurich, ON (View map)
The Hessenland Inn & Shatz Winery story began in Germany’s Hessen province over three decades ago, where Ernst and Christa Ihrig dreamt of transplanting their passion for hospitality and love for horse breeding to Canadian soil.
The Ihrigs transformed the property into a haven where sprawling gardens, inviting dining spaces, luxurious accommodations, five acres of vineyards, and the iconic Coach House converge in harmony. Today, the legacy is upheld by the next generation of Ihrigs: Frank, eldest son of Ernst and Christa, proudly shoulders the responsibility alongside his wife Liz.
Must-try wine: Shatz Winery 2021 “Rucksack” Riesling, a medium-intensity wine with an enticing nose of yellow fruit, white flowers and fresh lime peel.Flavours consist of a very fresh acid core carrying the medium to slightly narrow body – to a long finish that is dry with lots of citrus notes. Suggested pairing: Pork schnitzel with spätzle, red cabbage, root vegetables and apple chutney.
Niagara-on-the-Lake & Niagara Benchlands Wineries
Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) is just a short drive from Niagara Falls, and that proximity to the deep waters of Lake Ontario and the fast-flowing Niagara River results in favourable grape-growing conditions. It’s a beautiful spot to explore the landscape and sample some of NOTL’s four sub-appellations (Four Mile Creek, Niagara River, Niagara Lakeshore and St. David’s Bench). The Niagara Benchlands are home to quaint towns like Beamsville, Vineland and Jordan Village, and over 50 wineries dot this region.
Peller Estates
Where: 290 John St E, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (View map)
Peller Estates has been crafting quality wines for over 60 years. Winemaker Katie Dickieson grew up on a farm, which helped forge her strong appreciation for the land and love for the excitement of harvest season. Katie crafts Peller wines to enhance the dishes being served in the restaurant, resulting in wines that are well-balanced, with the perfect degree of freshness, acidity and structure.
Chef Jason Parsons brings over twenty years of culinary experience from some of the world’s most renowned restaurants to the Peller Estates Winery kitchen. Peller owns a 10-acre farm nearby, where the team grows much of the produce that is used in the kitchen. A meal at Peller Estates blends wine and food and family and friends into one completely immersive experience.
Must-try wine: Peller Estates Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 VQA, with classic notes of juicy dark fruits and sweet spices, black tea, cocoa powder, blackberry, black currant, and spicy oak notes on the extra dry finish. Suggested pairing: Beef striploin with roasted rutabaga, Merlot onion jam, truffle, Handeck cheese and potato tart.
Redstone Winery & Restaurant
Where: 4245 King St, Beamsville, ON (View map)
As a lifelong lover of wine, Redstone Proprietor Moray Tawse could also be called a terroir collector. After realizing the potential of winemaking in Niagara, Moray purchased his first vineyard in 2001. In 2005 he opened Tawse, the winery that bears his family name. Redstone is the newest addition to his portfolio and his second project on the Escarpment. “When you get an opportunity to get a terroir where the wine’s great, you buy another vineyard!”
Redstone’s vineyard is ideally suited to maturing late-ripening Bordeaux varietals including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. The winemakers use minimal-intervention techniques, such as picking and sorting the grapes by hand. The menu in the 80-seat restaurant pairs perfectly with Redstone’s portfolio of wines.
Must-try wine: Redstone Winery 2019 Merlot, a full-bodied, complex wine with a smooth tannin structure. There are notes of berries, smoke and violets on the nose. Suggested pairing: Wild mushroom & truffle cavatelli with arugula and parmesan.
Vineland Estates Winery
Where: 3620 Moyer Rd, Vineland, ON (View map)
Nestled on the slope of the Niagara Escarpment, the Vineland Estates winery and restaurant are one of the most memorable stops along the NOTL wine route. 180 acres of vineyards perch atop two flowing benches that roll northward towards Lake Ontario from the ridge of the Niagara Escarpment. The winery store and tasting bar reside within a “wooden cathedral” log barn (circa 1877!).
In the restaurant, Chef George and his team craft fine dining made with local and fresh ingredients. Guests dine indoors in the restored and expanded 1845 farmhouse or outdoors on the newly renovated deck. Wherever you are seated, you will take in the views of rolling vineyards, the forests of the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario with Toronto in the distance.
Must-try wine: Vineland Estates Winery Pinot Meunier Sparkling 2021. The red Pinot Meunier grape gives this sparkling wine a light rosé colour and a rich texture. Asian pear, dried tart cherry, and just a touch of honey bubble up in the nose. The mouthfeel is full and the finish is bright. It’s the perfect wine when you are unsure about the food and wine pairing; this sparkler will never let you down!
South Eastern Ontario Wineries
South Eastern Ontario is home to two culinary powerhouses: Kingston and Prince Edward County, an edgy young wine region on the shore of Lake Ontario located midway between Montreal and Toronto. The County offers a compelling alternative to Niagara wine tours: sip wine, sample cheeses, and stay a while.
Karlo Estates
Where: 561 Danforth Rd, Wellington, ON (View map)
Karlo Estates crafts gold medal wines under the direction of Executive Winemaker Derek Barnett and Winemaker Spencer Mayer, who earned 23 gold medal scores for their wine in 2021 alone! The Karlo Estates team is also known for producing the first certified vegan wine in the world. Today, all their practices are vegan, including the packaging.
The all-vegan menu of small bites is designed to complement the flavours found in each wine: think plant-based cheeses, olive tapenade, mushroom, lentil and walnut pâté, and rich dark chocolate brownies that pair perfectly with your glass of choice.
Must-try wine: Karlo Estates 2023 Three Witches, a dry, white, old-world blend of three grapes (Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling). This wine is smooth enough for a cocktail party and dry enough for a dinner wine, making it an engaging, versatile crowd pleaser. Suggested pairings: Risotto, pesto on pasta, taco verde, fried tofu, or heart of palm and pasta salad.
Closson Chase Vineyards
Where: 629 Closson Rd, Hillier, ON (View map)
Before its current renaissance as a wine and culinary destination, Prince Edward County was best known as an agricultural community. Closson Chase was just a bold idea when a group of intrepid wine industry pioneers rediscovered the region in the 1990s. Established in 1998, Closson Chase is a quality-driven winery that helped spearhead the birth of the Prince Edward County wine industry.
Winemaker Keith Tyers uses centuries-old techniques and sustainable practices to create world-class wines from the highest quality pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot gris grapes. An early advocate for sustainability, Closson Chase crafts fine wines that reflect each individual vintage, capturing the distinct qualities imparted by the soil and climatic variations of the year. Their seasonal restaurant, Bantam Farmhouse, carries this philosophy into their farm-to-table menu.
Must-try wine: Closson Chase Vineyards 2022 Mosaic, a Charmat method sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay grapes sourced from K.J. Watson Vineyard in Niagara River. White fruit and citrus pop on the nose, with flint and wet stone filling in the background. Suggested pairings: Soft, creamy cheeses, salty snacks, and seafood or shellfish.
